Lakers: ESPN Insiders Address If D’Angelo Russell Is the NBA’s Next Super Star PG
By Eric Yee
ESPN Insiders discussed whether or not Lakers rookie, D’Angelo Russell, is the NBA’s next superstar point guard
Every season, journalists are quick to peg the rookie class against each other — Karl-Anthony Towns or Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay — but this time the Insiders over at ESPN asked a simple question solely about the Lakers young guard.
Despite getting off to a slow start, Russell has turned it around since after the All-Star break, averaging 21.4 points per game on 55 percent shooting, 62 percent from three, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game (stats taken before the Denver Nuggets’ game).
That said, with his recent 39 point outburst, ESPN figured that now was the ideal time to question if super stardom is in the young guard’s future.
In a piece entitled, “Is D’Angelo Russell the NBA’s next superstar point guard,” insiders, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton, came to an interesting conclusion.
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After comparing him to the likes of Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, John Wall and other point guards drafted in the top ten, they came to the conclusion that “current evidence points to him being a potential All-Star but not necessarily a superstar.”
More over, Pelton argued that “Superstardom is going to require Russell to max out his development the way Bryant and Westbrook did.”
When discussing his strengths and weaknesses, the duo charted his inefficiency at the defensive end and inability at getting to the free throw line, flaws that are masked by his prolific three point shooting and ability to create shots at will.
"My biggest concern about Russell offensively was his inability to get to the foul line, which probably relates to the lack of elite athletic ability. That has carried over. He’s attempting only 2.7 free throws per 36 minutes, which isn’t good for a player who takes so many shots (15.1 field goal attempts per 36).Yet Russell has been good enough as a 3-point shooter — and, perhaps more accurately, prolific enough — that he has scored with adequate efficiency. And when Russell makes his 3s, as he has since the All-Star break, he’s a legitimately outstanding scorer."
Additionally,
"Russell’s biggest strength remains the ability to create shots. A 23.6 percent usage rate is on the high side for a rookie point guard. He’s also a good defensive rebounder for a point guard.Returning to weaknesses, ESPN’s real plus-minus (RPM) backs up the concerns about Russell’s defense. His minus-2.4 defensive RPM ranks him in the bottom quartile among point guards."
Russell obviously has a ways to go, especially defensively, but at this point the future looks bright for the Purple and Gold.
ESPN Insiders can catch the whole article here.
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What are your thoughts on D’Angelo Russell’s ceiling? Let us know in the comments below.